DENISE CHADWICK WRIGHT | CEO, Birmingham Green

In an industry plagued by workforce shortages, Birmingham Green, a nonprofit operating senior living facilities in Northern Virginia, enjoyed a 94.9% staff retention rate in the first quarter of 2025. In a 2025 article for McKnight’s Senior Living, Denise Chadwick Wright, the organization’s CEO since 2017, explains that Birmingham Green accomplished this through early engagement, leadership development and a culture of purpose-driven work.

In her piece, Chadwick Wright stresses that the first 90 days of an employee’s tenure is critical for retention, which is why the organization’s onboarding process includes personal meetings with the CEO. “Personalized support during this period fosters connection, builds trust and helps new hires feel seen and valued,” she writes.

In Newsweek’s 2025 America’s Best Nursing Homes list, Birmingham Green was the No. 1 nursing home in Northern Virginia among facilities with 150 or more beds and No. 2 in Virginia in the same category. In 2021, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News named Chadwick Wright an honoree in their Women of Distinction program.

Chadwick Wright serves as board chair for The Human Services Alliance of Greater Prince William and sits on the board for the Virginia Health Care Association and the Virginia Center for Assisted Living. She earned a degree in business administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an MBA in health administration from Eastern University in Pennsylvania.

2025 Virginia Women in Leadership Awards honorees